Ahead of the governorship elections slated to be held in Ondo State later in November, a group, the Ondo South Citizens’ Forum (OSCF), Lagos branch, has insisted that the next governor of the state, who as a matter of political arrangement and understanding must come from the south senatorial zone, must govern the state for eight years as his counterparts from the North and Central senatorial zones of the state had earlier done.

This was made known in Lagos yesterday at a press conference by the chairman of the Forum, Otunba Sola Olatunji.

Otunba Olatunji was speaking against the backdrop of the fact that the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) would conduct its primary election on Saturday, April 20, to pick the party’s flag bearer in the November governorship election.

Reading the text of the press parley, titled, “Ondo 2024: Ondo South Citizens’ Forum, Lagos branch, says no to four years, eight years not negotiable,” he noted that the Ondo South senatorial zone, which turn it is to produce the next governor of the state, was not ready to trade off its constitutionally guaranteed eight years for four years as the current governor is proposing.

He stated that in Ondo State, there is a political arrangement and understanding by the past leaders in the state that power must rotate among the three senatorial zones – Central, North and South; to ensure equity, inclusion, and political balancing. He stressed that Ondo Central and North have both had eight and seven years respectively, and that it is now the turn of the South senatorial zone to also have its eight years.

Otunba said the Forum was disturbed that out of 15 aspirants from the Ondo South who had been cleared by the APC to contest the party’s primary, every other aspirant was clamouring for eight years for the senatorial zone, except Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who has been preaching four years, probably because he has already been limited by law as he cannot be sworn in more than twice.

He described Aiyedatiwa’s position as selfish, absurd, and an attempt to shortchange and scam the people of Ondo South.

“To us in Ondo South, where we have people with impeccable characters, capacity and credible credentials to function effectively for eight years among the aspirants, we are affirming that only aspirants eligible for eight years will be supported in Ondo South. We are not going to support any aspirant, who is limited to only four years by law. As such, any aspirant pursuing such aspiration is driven by personal ego and not in the interest of the public.

“We are not against the governor, but his personal interest should not override that of the people of Ondo South. We are in Lagos, but our hearts are at home in Ondo State. So, what we are saying is that we the people of Ondo South must utilize the eight years that we have like the other zones instead of taking four years as the governor is preaching. In fact eight years for Ondo South is non-negotiable,” he stated.

He noted that some politicians from the Central senatorial zones have thrown their weight behind the governor because they know that after the governor’s four years, it would be their turn. He described such support as stomach infrastructure-induced endorsement, warning that there would be protest votes if the APC goes ahead to give the ticket to the Governor.

He cautioned the APC against taking action that does not align with what the majority of the people of Ondo South desire, saying, “We are saying that this conspiracy will produce nothing but political upheaval, and it will be too unbearable to the conspirators. A stitch in time saves nine, as often said. That is why we are making this clarion call to the leadership of the APC and political gladiators in Ondo State to weigh the consequences of hurting the Southern citizens and their capacity to revolt through their votes in November.”

Ondo South senatorial zone comprises six local government areas, including Odigbo, Okitipupa, Irele, Ile Oluji/Okeigbo, Ilaje, and Ese Odo.

ejimatic:
. Ondo South truly has never ruled in Ondo State.I think Lucky Ayedatiwa cannot start by calling for second term in office now It will be too early. If he performs well he may contest for another term.Granted there is no presence of government in Okiti pupa ,Igbokoda and other riverine areas . No electricity in those places for more than 8 years.

ejimatic:
. Ondo South truly has never ruled in Ondo State.I think Lucky Ayedatiwa cannot start by calling for second term in office now It will be too early. If he performs well he may contest for another term.Granted there is no presence of government in Okiti pupa ,Igbokoda and other riverine areas . No electricity in those places for more than 8 years.

ejimatic:
. Ondo South truly has never ruled in Ondo State.I think Lucky Ayedatiwa cannot start by calling for second term in office now It will be too early. If he performs well he may contest for another term.Granted there is no presence of government in Okiti pupa ,Igbokoda and other riverine areas . No electricity in those places for more than 8 years.

garfield1:


https://sunnewsonline.com/ondo-guber-ondo-south-must-govern-for-8-yrs-group/

Paraman:
Base on some of the results I saw yesterday on nairaland, Ayedatiwa will be the APC flagbearer

fergie001:

He cannot run for second term, he is limited by law.

The Constitution says when you complete the term of another, you can only only run one more term.

What some in Ondo S are saying is that if peradventure he wins, he can only run four years. Those in the Central and North might insist it goes to them after his tenure because they didn't tell Ondo S to shortchange themselves knowing fully well that any Ondo S person that comes after Aiyedatiwa will want to do 8 years prompting an unbroken 12 years.

Paraman:
Agagu is from okitipupa

If he contest and win, he can't recontest again.

fergie001:

He cannot run for second term, he is limited by law.

The Constitution says when you complete the term of another, you can only only run one more term.

What some in Ondo S are saying is that if peradventure he wins, he can only run four years. Those in the Central and North might insist it goes to them after his tenure because they didn't tell Ondo S to shortchange themselves knowing fully well that any Ondo S person that comes after Aiyedatiwa will want to do 8 years prompting an unbroken 12 years.

ejimatic:
. Why that conclusion? Because of Agagu?

ejimatic:
. Ondo South truly has never ruled in Ondo State.

ejimatic:
. Jonathan wanted to run again having been cleared by a court of law. Please remind us a law or a judgement that has vacated the possibility of contesting twice if you finish another person's tenure.

ejimatic:
. Jonathan wanted to run again having been cleared by a court of law. Please remind us a law or a judgement that has vacated the possibility of contesting twice if you finish another person's tenure.

garfield1:
True

fergie001:



When Jonathan lost the 2015 election, APC feeling he had some goodwill thought he will run again in 2019 and introduced a new bill in 2018.

Former President Buhari signed the 4th Constitution Alteration Bill into law. (This is the 4th Alteration bill because Jonathan was Nigeria's first President post-1999 to sign a Constitutional Alteration bill, he signed three different Alteration Bills)

The bills signed by Buhari are:

*Not-too-young to run, this was assented to days before others on May 31, 2018.

For the others, he signed on June 08, 2018....

1. The 14 days allowable time for pre-election matters.

2. The extension for re-run to take place within 21 days rather than the initial 7 days to give INEC some latitude to put logistics in order.

3. Financial Autonomy for States Houses of Assembly and Judiciary.

4. Completion of tenure of a sick, resigned, impeached or dead President/Governor is seen as one term. What it means is that once a Deputy-Governor or VP is sworn-in to complete the tenure of another, it is already by law seen as a term.

For the case of Jonathan in 2022/2023, it's different. Law is not retroactive.

What I mean is that, if there is NO law today punishing thieves, and a thief is arrested today, even if a new law punishing thieves is enacted a day after, he cannot be tried under that law.

Jonathan contested in 2015 and the law was enacted in 2018, it doesn't affect Jonathan, he still till tomorrow can contest.

Paraman:
Agagu is from okitipupa

If he contest and win, he can't recontest again.

Paraman:
Agagu is from okitipupa

If he contest and win, he can't recontest again.

article1:
Wetin be dis?

ejimatic:
. Ondo South truly has never ruled in Ondo State.I think Lucky Ayedatiwa cannot start by calling for second term in office now It will be too early. If he performs well he may contest for another term.Granted there is no presence of government in Okiti pupa ,Igbokoda and other riverine areas . No electricity in those places for more than 8 years.

BabaRamota1980:


Which candidates is Ondo South bringing forward to contest?

fergie001:



When Jonathan lost the 2015 election, APC feeling he had some goodwill thought he will run again in 2019 and introduced a new bill in 2018.

Former President Buhari signed the 4th Constitution Alteration Bill into law. (This is the 4th Alteration bill because Jonathan was Nigeria's first President post-1999 to sign a Constitutional Alteration bill, he signed three different Alteration Bills)

The bills signed by Buhari are:

*Not-too-young to run, this was assented to days before others on May 31, 2018.

For the others, he signed on June 08, 2018....

1. The 14 days allowable time for pre-election matters.

2. The extension for re-run to take place within 21 days rather than the initial 7 days to give INEC some latitude to put logistics in order.

3. Financial Autonomy for States Houses of Assembly and Judiciary.

4. Completion of tenure of a sick, resigned, impeached or dead President/Governor is seen as one term. What it means is that once a Deputy-Governor or VP is sworn-in to complete the tenure of another, it is already by law seen as a term.

For the case of Jonathan in 2022/2023, it's different. Law is not retroactive.

What I mean is that, if there is NO law today punishing thieves, and a thief is arrested today, even if a new law punishing thieves is enacted a day after, he cannot be tried under that law.

Jonathan contested in 2015 and the law was enacted in 2018, it doesn't affect Jonathan, he still till tomorrow can contest.

ejimatic:
Ondo South truly has never ruled in Ondo State.I think Lucky Ayedatiwa cannot start by calling for second term in office now It will be too early. If he performs well he may contest for another term.Granted there is no presence of government in Okiti pupa ,Igbokoda and other riverine areas . No electricity in those places for more than 8 years.

ejimatic:
Ondo South truly has never ruled in Ondo State.I think Lucky Ayedatiwa cannot start by calling for second term in office now It will be too early. If he performs well he may contest for another term.Granted there is no presence of government in Okiti pupa ,Igbokoda and other riverine areas . No electricity in those places for more than 8 years.

ejimatic:
Ondo South truly has never ruled in Ondo State.I think Lucky Ayedatiwa cannot start by calling for second term in office now It will be too early. If he performs well he may contest for another term.Granted there is no presence of government in Okiti pupa ,Igbokoda and other riverine areas . No electricity in those places for more than 8 years.